Posts by Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes

Sara Barnes is a Staff Editor at My Modern Met and Manager of My Modern Met Store. She is a graduate of the Maryland Institute College of Art where she earned her BFA in Illustration and MFA in Illustration Practice. Sara is also an embroidery illustrator and writer living in Seattle, Washington. She runs Bear&Bean, a studio where she stitches pet portraits and other beloved creatures. She chronicles the creativity of others through her website Brown Paper Bag and newsletter, Orts. Her latest book is Threads of Treasure: How to Make, Mend, and Find Meaning Through Thread, published in 2014. Sara’s work has been recognized in Be Creative With Workbox, Embroidery Magazine, American Illustration, on Iron and Wine’s album Beast Epic, among others. When she’s not stitching or writing, Sara enjoys planning things that bring together the craft community. She is the co-founder of Camp Craftaway, a day camp for crafty adults with hands-on workshops in the Seattle area.
Photo Contest
December 9, 2025

Royal Photographic Society Announces 2025 Winners of the World’s Longest-Running Photo Prize

The world’s longest-running photography prize has recently announced its winners for 2025. The Royal Photographic Society (RPS) was founded in 1853—when photography was brand new—with the mission to make the art and science of the medium available to all. It’s kept that tradition for well over a century and a half; through its 2025 competition winners, the various possibilities of the format are highlighted and celebrated.

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Photography
November 25, 2025

Photographer Shares Why His Animal Portraits Are Shot From Bottom Up [Interview]

Photographer Andrius Burba captures his animal portraiture from the bottom up. That’s not just an expression—it’s the basis of his ongoing project (now brand) known as Underlook. The premise is simple, but the logistics can be complex: Burba places a cat, dog, reptile, or even horse on a piece of glass and then photographs their bellies, feet, and whatever else they care to share with us.

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Art
November 21, 2025

Beloved Portland Galleries Give Back to the Art Community After Tragedy

Venture to the Alberta Arts District in Northeast Portland to discover one of its most beloved pairs of art spaces: Antler and Talon Galleries. The two are mainstays in the vibrant neighborhood, having first been opened in 2012 as solely the Antler Gallery. Comprising just 100 square feet of space at its inception, founders Susannah Kelly and Neil Perry had ambitious plans for the gallery and the work they chose to exhibit.

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My Modern Met

Celebrating creativity and promoting a positive culture by spotlighting the best sides of humanity—from the lighthearted and fun to the thought-provoking and enlightening.